gentlemen
Polite male address
Gentlemen is the plural of gentleman—men of good breeding, manners, or social standing.
As an address, it opens speeches or letters to male audiences: Gentlemen, thank you for coming.
Ladies and gentlemen remains the standard formal greeting to mixed crowds.
A gentlemen's agreement is an informal pact based on honor rather than contract.
Respectful male addresses
- messieursPlural of monsieur
- esquiresTitle below knight
- lordsMen of high rank
- mistersFog-producing spray devices
sahib · señores · signori · effendi · bwana · nobility · peerage · aristocrats
Of hereditary nobility
- cultivatedImproved through nurture
- elegantGracefully refined, tasteful
- sophisticatedWorldly and cultured
- urbaneRefined and courteous
debonair · graceful · tasteful · well-bred · cosmopolitan · distinguished · polished · worldly
Of armored nobility
- gallantCourageously attentive and refined
- nobleTitled or virtuous
- honorableHaving high moral standards
- valiantCourageously determined
courtly · dignified · respectful · magnanimous · protector · defender · loyal · virtuous
Showing respectful consideration
- politeShowing good manners
- considerateMindful of others' needs
- graciousPleasantly kind and courteous
- cordialWarmly friendly manner
tactful · diplomatic · decorous · affable · obliging · deferential · mannerly · well-mannered
Adjusted to fit exactly
- blazerSemiformal tailored jacket
- tuxedoMen's formal evening attire
- vestSleeveless upper-body garment
- formalwearElegant occasion attire
necktie · cufflinks · pinstripe · lapel · waistcoat · boutonniere · monocle · cummerbund
sirs
Respectful male addresses
misters · sahib · señores · signori · effendi · bwana · nobility · peerage · aristocrats · landowners
aristocratic
Of hereditary nobility
- cultivatedImproved through nurture
- elegantGracefully refined, tasteful
- sophisticatedWorldly and cultured
urbane · debonair · graceful · tasteful · well-bred · cosmopolitan · distinguished · polished · worldly · suave
knightly
Of armored nobility
- gallantCourageously attentive and refined
- nobleTitled or virtuous
- honorableHaving high moral standards
valiant · courtly · dignified · respectful · magnanimous · protector · defender · loyal · virtuous · upright
courteous
Showing respectful consideration
- politeShowing good manners
- considerateMindful of others' needs
- graciousPleasantly kind and courteous
cordial · tactful · diplomatic · decorous · affable · obliging · deferential · mannerly · well-mannered · civil
tailored
Adjusted to fit exactly
formalwear · necktie · cufflinks · pinstripe · lapel · waistcoat · boutonniere · monocle · cummerbund · double-breasted
brotherhood
Kinship among men
- camaraderieGoodwill among companions
- comradesClose allies in cause
- fellowsCompanions or associates
lads · blokes · chaps · gents · club · society · lodge · association · members · colleagues
- menman, guys, male, blokes, guy
- British Classupper class, middle class, lower class, working class, aristocrats
- greetingshi, hello, hey, hola, aloha
- malesboys, guys, lads, dudes, blokes
- guysguy, dude, boys, fella, dudes
- Antebellum Southplantation, cotton kingdom, overseer, slave quarters, big house
gentlemenrogues
Dishonest or deviant individuals
scoundrels · villains · cads · blackguards · ruffians
- ladies and gentlemenFormal crowd address
- perfect gentlemanMan of exemplary manners
- gentlemen's clubExclusive male social organization
- gentlemen's agreementInformal pact on honor
- gentleman's clubPrivate social organization for men
- gentleman's agreementInformal pact based on trust
gentleman, gentlemanly, ungentlemanly, gentlemen's, gentlemanliness